Think Mink

Valerie Tierney looks at how the fashion industry is becoming more subtle in its forms of animal cruelty by examining the sudden ‘Mink Lash’ craze jumping from eyelid to waterline.

It has long been said that the eyes are the window to the soul, and perhaps this is why people have always had such a vested interest in enhancing them. For confirmation of this one only need look at beauty brands, which always seem to sell at least one mascara promising to make your eyes “pop”. Amongst the latest eyewear trends however, are Mink Eyelashes, either in the form of strip lashes, or semi-permanent extensions. These lashes are coveted for their ability to create a range of different looks, from the natural to the super dramatic, as well as the fact that mink strip lashes can be reused up to twenty-five times. But what exactly are mink lashes?

Mink lashes are produced by gathering fur from mink, sterilising these hairs, and then either attaching them to a band (in the case of strip lashes) or packaging them in preparation for salon application as lash extensions. The use of mink as a fashion accessory is hardly new, however there is a singular difference in the way these lash extensions are marketed. Many companies maintain that they gather their natural mink hair in a humane way, such as by brushing the mink to gather hair. For example, the company Velour Lashes, whose products have been worn by celebrities such as Nina Dobrev and Beyoncé, insist that they collect hair “from free-range zoos… during the shedding seasons”. At the other end of the spectrum, some companies make no claims that their products are in any way ethical.

It is well accepted that fur farms are not suitable environments for animals, with them being kept in overcrowded conditions. As well as this, they don’t get appropriate veterinary care and are frequently fed improper diets. However, are these “ethical” producers much better? Many would argue that they are not. As mink are solitary animals that tend to roam, keeping them in zoos and other confined spaces goes against their nature, and increases the chance that they will fight amongst themselves, causing stress and emotional harm, as well as physical damage. As for brushing them to collect hair, it must be remembered that although these animals may have been born in captivity, they are not domesticated, and prolonged forced human contact can cause them to become stressed and anxious.

There are plenty of alternatives, from synthetic materials such as synthesised hair, to really good mascaras. However, it is worth noting that mink is also currently in use as a buzzword, and many salons offering “mink eyelash extensions” are actually using silk and other synthetic alternatives that have been created with the properties of mink fur in mind. The bottom line is that each person should do their research before buying, and decide for themselves what they are willing to support in the pursuit of beauty. Is the beast worth the beauty?